arXiv subjects

Savannah Garmon

Publications and source records attributed to Savannah Garmon.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Weak-coupling bound states in semi-infinite topological waveguide QED

A striking feature of cavity quantum electrodynamics is the existence of atom-photon bound states, which typically form when the coupling between the atom and its environment are strong enough that after de-excitation the atom can ``grab'' an emitted photon and re-absorb it, resulting in a virtual cloud surrounding the atom. Here we will demonstrate the existence of bound states that instead form in the case of weak coupling. Specifically, we show that when a quantum emitter is weakly coupled to a structured reservoir exhibiting topologically-protected surface states, hybridizations between these states and the emitter can form, resulting in mid-gap bound states. We illustrate this using a semi-infinite extension of the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) model as our reservoir. First, we diagonalize the bare semi-infinite SSH chain and reveal a winding number that predicts only the edge state on the finite side of the chain survives the semi-infinite extension. Then, after coupling the quantum emitter to this end of the chain, we analyze the modified emitter spectrum and reveal the existence of bound states in three parameter regions. Two of these represent the usual strong-coupling bound states, while the third gives the weak-coupling bound states with eigenvalue appearing in the SSH band gap and which exhibit partial sublattice localization. We demonstrate that oscillations between the weak-coupling bound states can be used to transfer the particle from the emitter into the lattice in a predictable and reversible manner.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

Enhanced classical radiation damping of electronic cyclotron motion in the vicinity of the Van Hove singularity in a waveguide

We study the damping process of electron cyclotron motion and the resulting emission in a waveguide using the classical Friedrichs model without relying on perturbation analysis such as Fermi's golden rule. A classical Van Hove singularity appears at the lower bound (or cut-off frequency) of the dispersion associated with each of the electromagnetic field modes in the waveguide. In the vicinity of the Van Hove singularity, we found that not only is the decay process associated with the resonance pole enhanced (amplification factor ~ $10^4$) but the branch-point effect is also comparably enhanced. As a result, the timescale on which most of the decay occurs is dramatically shortened. Further, this suggests that the non-Markovian branch point effect should be experimentally observable in the vicinity of the Van Hove singularity. Our treatment yields a physically-acceptable solution without the problematic runaway solution that is well known to appear in the traditional treatment of classical radiation damping based on the Abraham-Lorentz equation.

physics.class-ph↗

arXiv2021

Reservoir-assisted symmetry breaking and coalesced zero-energy modes in an open PT-symmetric Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model

We study a model consisting of a central $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric trimer with non-Hermitian strength parameter $γ$ coupled to two semi-infinite Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) leads. We show the existence of two zero-energy modes, one of which is localized while the other is anti-localized. For the remaining eigenvalues, we demonstrate two qualitatively distinct types of $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetry breaking. Within a subset of the parameter space corresponding to the topologically non-trivial phase of the SSH chains, a gap opens within the broken $\mathcal{PT}$ regime of the discrete eigenvalue spectrum. For relatively smaller values of $γ$, the eigenvalues are embedded in the two SSH bands and hence become destabilized primarily due to the resonance interaction with the continuum. We refer to this as reservoir-assisted $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetry breaking. As the value of $γ$ is increased, the eigenvalues exit the SSH bands and the discrete eigenstates become more strongly localized in the central trimer region. This approximate decoupling results in the discrete spectrum behaving more like the independent trimer, including both a region in which the $\mathcal{PT}$ symmetry is restored (the gap) and a second region in which it is broken again. At the exceptional point (EP) marking the boundary between the gap and the second $\mathcal{PT}$-broken region, two of the eigenstates coalesce with the localized zero-energy mode, resulting in a third-order exceptional point (EP3). At the other boundaries of the parameter space at which the gap vanishes, similar higher-order EPs can form as pairs of the discrete eigenstates coalesce with either of the two zero-energy states. The EPs of order $N$ formed of the localized zero-energy state give rise to a characteristic $\sim t^{2N-2}$ evolution in the survival probability dynamics, which we propose to measure in a photonic lattice experiment.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2021

Characteristic influence of exceptional points in quantum dynamics

We review some recent work on the occurrence of coalescing eigenstates at exceptional points in non-Hermitian systems and their influence on physical quantities. We particularly focus on quantum dynamics near exceptional points in open quantum systems, which are described by an outwardly Hermitian Hamiltonian that gives rise to a non-Hermitian effective description after one projects out the environmental component of the system. We classify the exceptional points into two categories: those at which two or more resonance states coalesce and those at which at least one resonance and the partnering anti-resonance coalesce (possibly including virtual states as well), and we introduce several simple models to explore the dynamics for both of these types. In the latter case of coalescing resonance and anti-resonance states, we show that the presence of the continuum threshold plays a strong role in shaping the dynamics, in addition to the exceptional point itself. We also briefly discuss the special case in which the exceptional point appears directly at the threshold.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2021

Anomalous-order exceptional point and non-Markovian Purcell effect at threshold in one-dimensional continuum systems

For a system consisting of a quantum emitter coupled near threshold (band edge) to a one-dimensional continuum with a van Hove singularity in the density of states, we demonstrate general conditions such that a characteristic triple level convergence occurs directly on the threshold as the coupling $g$ is shut off. For small $g$ values the eigenvalue and norm of each of these states can be expanded in a Puiseux expansion in terms of powers of $g^{2/3}$, which suggests the influence of a third-order exceptional point. However, in the actual $g \rightarrow 0$ limit, only two discrete states in fact coalesce as the system can be reduced to a $2 \times 2$ Jordan block; the third state instead merges with the continuum. Moreover, the decay width of the resonance state involved in this convergence is significantly enhanced compared to the usual Fermi golden rule, which is consistent with the Purcell effect. However, non-Markovian dynamics due to the branch-point effect are also enhanced near the threshold. Applying a perturbative analysis in terms of the Puiseux expansion that takes into account the threshold influence, we show that the combination of these effects results in quantum emitter decay of the unusual form $1 - C t^{3/2}$ on the key timescale during which most of the decay occurs. We then present two conditions that must be satisfied at the threshold for the anomalous exceptional point to occur: the density of states must contain an inverse square-root divergence and the potential must be non-singular. We further show that when the energy of the quantum emitter is detuned from threshold, the anomalous exceptional point splits into three ordinary exceptional points, two of which appear in the complex-extended parameter space. These results provide deeper insight into a well-known problem in spontaneous decay at a photonic band edge.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2020

Coherent single-spin electron resonance spectroscopy manifested at an exceptional-point singularity in a doped polyacetylene

Spin-dependent charge transfer decay in an alkali atom doped polyacetylene is studied in terms of the complex spectral analysis, revealing the single-spin Zeeman splitting influenced by the spin-orbit interaction. Nonhermitian effective Hamiltonian has been derived from the total system hermitian Hamiltonian using Brillouin-Wigner-Feshbach projection method, where the microscopic spin-dependent dissipation effect is correctly incorporated in the energy-dependent self-energy. Since the present method maintains the dynamical and chiral symmetries of the total system, we discovered two types of exceptional point (EP) singularities in a unified perspective: the EP surface and EP ring are attributed to the dynamical and chiral symmetry breaking, respectively. We have revealed that the coherent single-spin electron resonance (SSESR) spectrum reflects the complex eigenenergy spectrum of the system. We have formulated the SSESR spectrum in terms of the nonlinear response function in the Liouville-space pathway approach, where we have constructed the Liouville space basis using the complex eigenstates of the total Hamiltonian. We have calculated the one- and two-dimensional Fourier transform SSESR (1DFT and 2DFT) spectra reflecting the spin-relaxation dynamics at the donor site. While the 1DFT SSESR spectrum reflects the complex eigenenergy spectrum, the 2DFT gives detailed information on the quantum coherence in the spin-relaxation dynamics as a cross-correlation between the two frequencies. We found a giant response of the coherent SSESR around the EP ring singularity due to the vanishing normalization factors at the EP ring and the resonance effect. We have discovered that the giant response is much larger in magnitudes in the 2DFT spectrum than in the 1DFT spectrum, which promises the 2DFT SSESR a useful tool to observe the single-spin response in a molecule.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2019

Non-Markovian dynamics revealed at the bound state in continuum

We propose a methodical approach to controlling and enhancing deviations from exponential decay in quantum and optical systems by exploiting recent progress surrounding another subtle effect: the bound states in continuum, which have been observed in optical waveguide array experiments within this past decade. Specifically, we show that by populating an initial state orthogonal to that of the bound state in continuum, it is possible to engineer system parameters for which the usual exponential decay process is suppressed in favor of inverse power law dynamics and coherent effects that typically would be extremely difficult to detect in experiment. We demonstrate our method using a model based on an optical waveguide array experiment, and further show that the method is robust even in the face of significant detuning from the precise location of the bound state in continuum.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2017

A new perspective on the Fano absorption spectrum in terms of complex spectral analysis

A new aspect of understanding a Fano absorption spectrum is presented in terms of the complex spectral analysis. The absorption spectrum of an impurity embedded in semi-infinite superlattice is investigated. The boundary condition on the continuum causes a large energy dependence of the self-energy, enhances the nonlinearity of the eigenvalue problem of the effective Hamiltonian, yielding several nonanalytic resonance states. The overall spectral features is perfectly reproduced by the direct transitions to these discrete resonance states. Even with a single optical transition path the spectrum exhibits an asymmetric Fano profile, which is enhanced for the transition to the nonanalytic resonance states. Since this is the genuine eigenstates of the total Hamiltonian, there is no ambiguity in the interpretation of the absorption spectrum, avoiding the arbitrary interpretation based on the quantum interference. The spectral change around the exceptional point is well understood when we extract the resonant state component.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2017

Exact description of coalescing eigenstates in open quantum systems in terms of microscopic Hamiltonian dynamics

At the exceptional point where two eigenstates coalesce in open quantum systems, the usual diagonalization scheme breaks down and the Hamiltonian can only be reduced to Jordan block form. Most of the studies on the exceptional point appearing in the literature introduce a phenomenological effective Hamiltonian that essentially reduces the problem to that of a finite non-Hermitian matrix for which it is straightforward to obtain the Jordan form. In this paper, we demonstrate how the Hamiltonian of an open quantum system reduces to Jordan block form at an exceptional point in an exact manner that treats the continuum without any approximation. Our method relies on the Brillouin-Wigner-Feshbach projection method according to which we can obtain a finite dimensional effective Hamiltonian that shares the discrete sector of the spectrum with the original Hamiltonian. While owing to its eigenvalue dependence this effective Hamiltonian cannot be used to write the Jordan block directly, we show that by formally extending the problem to include eigenstates with complex eigenvalues that reside outside the usual Hilbert space, we can obtain the Jordan block form at the exceptional point without introducing any approximation. We also introduce an extended Jordan form basis away from the exceptional point, which provides an alternative way to obtain the Jordan block at an exceptional point. The extended Jordan block connects continuously to the Jordan block exactly at the exceptional point implying that the observable quantities are continuous at the exceptional point.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2017

Characteristic dynamics near two coalescing eigenvalues incorporating continuum threshold effects

It has been reported in the literature that the survival probability $P(t)$ near an exceptional point where two eigenstates coalesce should generally exhibit an evolution $P(t) \sim t^2 e^{-Γt}$, in which $Γ$ is the decay rate of the coalesced eigenstate; this has been verified in a microwave billiard experiment [B. Dietz, et al, Phys. Rev. E 75, 027201 (2007)]. However, the heuristic effective Hamiltonian that is usually employed to obtain this result ignores the possible influence of the continuum threshold on the dynamics. By contrast, in this work we employ an analytical approach starting from the microscopic Hamiltonian representing two simple models in order to show that the continuum threshold has a strong influence on the dynamics near exceptional points in a variety of circumstances. To report our results, we divide the exceptional points in Hermitian open quantum systems into two cases: at an EP2A two virtual bound states coalesce before forming a resonance, anti-resonance pair with complex conjugate eigenvalues, while at an EP2B two resonances coalesce before forming two different resonances. For the EP2B, which is the case studied in the microwave billiard experiment, we verify the survival probability exhibits the previously reported modified exponential decay on intermediate timescales, but this is replaced with an inverse power law on very long timescales. Meanwhile, for the EP2A the influence from the continuum threshold is so strong that the evolution is non-exponential on all timescales and the heuristic approach fails completely. When the EP2A appears very near the threshold we obtain the novel evolution $P(t) \sim 1 - C_1 \sqrt{t} + D_1 t$ on intermediate timescales, while further away the parabolic decay (Zeno dynamics) on short timescales is enhanced. We also discuss the parametric encirclement of the EP2A in an appendix.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2017

Impurity-directed Transport within a Finite Disordered Lattice

We consider a finite, disordered 1D quantum lattice with a side-attached impurity. We study theoretically the transport of a single electron from the impurity into the lattice, at zero temperature. The transport is dominated by Anderson localization and, in general, the electron motion has a random character due to the lattice disorder. However, we show that by adjusting the impurity energy the electron can attain quasi-periodic motions, oscillating between the impurity and a small region of the lattice. This region corresponds to the center of a localized state in the lattice with an energy matched by that of the impurity. By precisely tuning the impurity energy, the electron can be set to oscillate between the impurity and a region far from the impurity, even distances larger than the Anderson localization length. The electron oscillations result from the interference of hybridized states, which have some resemblance to Pendry's necklace states [J. B. Pendry, J. Phys. C: Solid State Phys. 20, 733-742 (1987)]. The dependence of the electron motion on the impurity energy gives a potential mechanism for selectively routing an electron towards different regions of a 1D disordered lattice.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2016

Higher-order Time-Symmetry-Breaking Phase Transition due to meeting of an Exceptional Point and Fano Resonance

We have theoretically investigated the time-symmetry breaking phase transition process for two discrete states coupled with a one-dimensional continuum by solving the nonlinear eigenvalue prob- lem for the effective Hamiltonian associated with the discrete spectrum. We obtain the effective Hamiltonian with use of the Feshbach-Brillouin-Wigner projection method. Strong energy depen- dence of the self-energy appearing in the effective Hamiltonian plays a key role in the time-symmetry breaking phase transition: as a result of competition in the decay process between the Van Hove singularity and the Fano resonance, the phase transition becomes a higher-order transition when both the two discrete states are located near the continuum threshold.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2015

Bound states, scattering states and resonant states in PT-symmetric open quantum systems

We study a simple open quantum system with a PT-symmetric defect potential as a prototype to illustrate general features of PT-symmetric open quantum systems; however, the potential could be mimicked by a number of recent PT experiments. One key feature is the resonance in continuum (RIC), which appears in both the discrete spectrum and scattering spectrum. The RIC forms a standing wave extending throughout the spatial extent of the system, representing a resonance between the open environment and the central PT-symmetric potential. We illustrate that as one deforms the system parameters, the RIC may exit the continuum by splitting into a bound state and a virtual bound state at the band edge, a process that should be experimentally observable. We also study the exceptional points (EPs) at which two eigenvalues coalesce; we categorize these as either EP2As, at which two real-valued solutions coalesce before becoming complex-valued, or EP2Bs, for which the two solutions are complex on either side of the EP. The EP2As are associated with PT-symmetry breaking; we argue that these are more stable against parameter perturbation than the EP2Bs. We also study complex-valued solutions of the discrete spectrum for which the wave function is nevertheless spatially localized, something not allowed in traditional open quantum systems; we illustrate that these may form quasi-bound states in continuum (QBICs) under some circumstances. We also study the scattering properties of the system, including states that support invisible propagation and some general features of perfect transmission states. We finally construct scattering states that satisfy PT-symmetric boundary conditions; while these states do not conserve the traditional probability current, we introduce the PT-current that is preserved. The perfect transmission states appear as a special case of the PT-symmetric scattering states.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2014

Landau-Zener transitions mediated by an environment: population transfer and energy dissipation

We study Landau-Zener transitions between two states with the addition of a shared discretized continuum. The continuum allows for population decay from the initial state as well as indirect transitions between the two states. The probability of nonadiabatic transition in this multichannel model preserves the standard Landau-Zener functional form except for a shift in the usual exponential factor, reflecting population transfer into the continuum. We provide an intuitive explanation for this behavior assuming independent individual transitions between pairs of states. In contrast, the probability of survival in the ground state at long time shows a novel, non-monotonic, functional form, with an oscillatory behavior in the sweep rate at low sweep rate values. We contrast the behavior of this open-multistate model to other generalized Landau-Zener models incorporating an environment: the stochastic Landau-Zener model and the dissipative case, where energy dissipation and thermal excitations affect the adiabatic region. Finally, we present evidence that the continuum of states may act to shield the two-state Landau-Zener transition probability from the effect of noise.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2012

Gender and Sexual Diversity Issues in Physics: The Audience Speaks

An account is presented of the special session on "Gender and Sexual Diversity Issues in Physics" which took place at the American Physical Society March Meeting 2012. The opinions of those who attended this session were solicited via an anonymous survey, the results of which are reported here. Drawing both upon ideas put forward by the speakers and audience from the meeting, a set of recommended actions is proposed for the Physics community to become more inclusive of LGBT+ people.

physics.soc-ph↗

arXiv2012

Analysis technique for exceptional points in open quantum systems and QPT analogy for the appearance of irreversibility

We propose an analysis technique for the exceptional points (EPs) occurring in the discrete spectrum of open quantum systems (OQS), using a semi-infinite chain coupled to an endpoint impurity as a prototype. We outline our method to locate the EPs in OQS, further obtaining an eigenvalue expansion in the vicinity of the EPs that gives rise to characteristic exponents. We also report the precise number of EPs occurring in an OQS with a continuum described by a quadratic dispersion curve. In particular, the number of EPs occurring in a bare discrete Hamiltonian of dimension $n_\textrm{D}$ is given by $n_\textrm{D} (n_\textrm{D} - 1)$; if this discrete Hamiltonian is then coupled to continuum (or continua) to form an OQS, the interaction with the continuum generally produces an enlarged discrete solution space that includes a greater number of EPs, specifically $2^{n_\textrm{C}} (n_\textrm{C} + n_\textrm{D}) [2^{n_\textrm{C}} (n_\textrm{C} + n_\textrm{D}) - 1] $, in which $n_\textrm{C}$ is the number of (non-degenerate) continua to which the discrete sector is attached. Finally, we offer a heuristic quantum phase transition analogy for the emergence of the resonance (giving rise to irreversibility via exponential decay) in which the decay width plays the role of the order parameter; the associated critical exponent is then determined by the above eigenvalue expansion.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2012

Amplification of non-Markovian decay due to bound state absorption into continuum

It is known that quantum systems yield non-exponential (power law) decay on long time scales, associated with continuum threshold effects contributing to the survival probability for a prepared initial state. For an open quantum system consisting of a discrete state coupled to continuum, we study the case in which a discrete bound state of the full Hamiltonian approaches the energy continuum as the system parameters are varied. We find in this case that at least two regions exist yielding qualitatively different power law decay behaviors; we term these the long time `near zone' and long time `far zone.' In the near zone the survival probability falls off according to a $t^{-1}$ power law, and in the far zone it falls off as $t^{-3}$. We show that the timescale $T_Q$ separating these two regions is inversely related to the gap between the discrete bound state energy and the continuum threshold. In the case that the bound state is absorbed into the continuum and vanishes, then the time scale $T_Q$ diverges and the survival probability follows the $t^{-1}$ power law even on asymptotic scales. Conversely, one could study the case of an anti-bound state approaching the threshold before being ejected from the continuum to form a bound state. Again the $t^{-1}$ power law dominates precisely at the point of ejection.

quant-ph↗